Swimming pool cleaning device

ABSTRACT

The swimming pool cleaning device is a submergible structure for drawing water from a tank, such as a swimming pool, to be cleaned, and further for cleaning a submerged surface of the tank, such as the swimming pool floor. The swimming pool cleaning device includes a pair of suction tubes, which communicate with a pressurized source, such as a pump, to suck water from the swimming pool for cleaning and later return to the swimming pool. A flapper valve controls entry of water into the suction tubes, alternating water flow between one tube and the other. The oscillatory flow between the two suction tubes imparts horizontal momentum to the swimming pool cleaning device, allowing the swimming pool cleaning device to travel along a surface of the pool without further user-provided motive force.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/759,618, filed Jan. 18, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for cleaning tanks, pools, andother large water reservoirs, and particularly to a swimming poolcleaning device that provides a submergible structure for drawing waterfrom the swimming pool while cleaning the swimming pool floor.

2. Description of the Related Art

A wide variety of systems have been utilized for cleaning swimmingpools. Such systems typically include some sort of cleaning head, whichis submerged within the swimming pool and rests on the pool bottom. Anupper portion of the system is connected to an external pump, whichprovides suction to remove water from the pool for filtration andsubsequent reentry into the swimming pool. The head of the device notonly provides a suction head for the removal of water, but also cleansthe surface upon which it rests.

In order to clean the entire pool, rather than just a small portion,various drive systems have been added to the cleaning heads of suchswimming pool cleaners. Basic drive systems include a towing line orother simple devices for the user to manually pull the cleaning systemacross the floor of the pool. Various automated systems have also beenutilized, including basic propeller driving systems and systems thatdivert the flow of the water under suction pressure to an outlet, thuscreating a driving jet stream. Such systems, however, are inefficientand their multiplicities of moving parts cause them to be vulnerable tomisalignments and other mechanical failures. Further, such systems tendto create vortices, turbulence and other negative fluid flow effects,which will obstruct the movement of the cleaning head and can cause thecleaning head to become dislodged from the floor of the swimming pool.Thus, a swimming pool cleaning device solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The swimming pool cleaning device is a submergible structure for drawingwater from a large receptacle, such as a swimming pool, to be cleaned,and further for cleaning a submerged surface of the receptacle, such asthe swimming pool floor. The swimming pool cleaning device includes apair of suction tubes, which communicate with a pressurized source, suchas a pump, to suck water from the swimming pool for cleaning and laterreturn to the swimming pool. Water is drawn through a lower headportion, through one of the two suction tubes, and then through aregulating ball valve before being delivered to the separate pump andfilter systems.

A flapper valve is mounted to the lower ends of the suction tubes andcontrols entry of water into the suction tubes, alternating water flowbetween one tube and the other. The flapper valve alternates betweensealing one suction and the other through application of Bernoulli'sprinciple. The oscillatory flow between the two suction tubes impartshorizontal momentum to the swimming pool cleaning device, allowing theswimming pool cleaning device to travel along a surface of the poolwithout further user-provided motive force. Further, a base plate ismounted within the head portion below the flapper valve and regulateswater by providing a pair of passageways, each in alignment with one ofthe two suction tubes. Drawing water through the openings in the baseplate reduces the formation of vortices and other turbulence within thehead portion.

The swimming pool cleaning device may include an outer housing forprotecting the components within the head portion and the suction tubes.The housing may include elements, such as rings, allowing the user totie or tether the swimming pool cleaning device, so that the device canonly move within a restricted area. Further, a buoyant member may beaffixed to the housing, thus providing an upward buoyant force anddecreasing the friction of the device against the swimming pool floor.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool cleaning deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of the swimming pool cleaning deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view in section of the swimming pool cleaningdevice shown in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged view of the head portion.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a base plate of the swimming pool cleaningdevice according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The swimming pool cleaning device 10, shown in FIG. 1, cleans andpurifies water contained within a large, manmade receptacle, such as aswimming pool, and further cleans the submerged surfaces of thereceptacle. The upper end of the swimming pool cleaning device 10includes a connector 240 for connection with a pressurized tube or hose.The tube or hose is connected to a conventional pump and purificationsystem, as is often associated with the cleaning of swimming pools. Thewater is drawn out of the swimming pool by the pump, delivered to thepurification system, and then returned to the swimming pool, oncecleaned. Preferably, connector 240 is threaded, for connection to aconventional threaded hose, although any suitable connector may beutilized, dependent upon the nature of the tube or hose.

Water from the swimming pool is drawn through the lower portion ofdevice 10, as indicated by directional arrows 270. As will be describedin greater detail below, the water is drawn upwards through device 10,and exits at the upper end thereof, under the pressure created by theattached pump, as indicated by directional arrows 300. The suction ofwater through the lower end of device 10 causes the lower surface ofhead portion 20 to adhere to a surface of the receptacle, such as thefloor of the swimming pool. Further, as will be described in greaterdetail below, the suction of water through device 10 causes device 10 tomove across the surface of the swimming pool, thus allowing forautomatic cleaning of the entire swimming pool without a separateuser-applied pushing or pulling force.

As shown in FIG. 1, once water has been drawn through head portion 20,it is delivered to the upper end of device 10 through a pair of suctiontubes 110, 120. In a manner that will be described in greater detailbelow, water flow alternates between suction tube 110 and suction tube120; it is this oscillation of water flow path that creates a drivingforce for device 10 to move within the swimming pool. Head 20 andsuction tubes 110, 120 are preferably formed from a durable, waterproofmaterial, such as plastic, that will not corrode when submerged inwater, and further, that will not cause damage to the receptacle wallsor floor. Alternatively, in order to protect suction tubes 110 and 120,an outer casing, also formed from plastic or the like, may be provided,as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

Housing 330, shown in FIG. 2, covers and protects suction tubes 110 and120, and provides further protection for the internal elements of headportion 20, which will be described in greater detail below. A buoyantregion 310 is formed in housing 330, which is a hollow region containingair, foam or other buoyant materials (with the buoyancy preferably beingtaken with respect to water, particularly in use with swimming pools orthe like). In operation, the suction of water through device 10 causesthe lower wall 230 (best shown in FIG. 3) of device 10 to adhere to asurface of the swimming pool, such as the pool's floor. However, device10 also experiences a lateral force, which moves the swimming poolcleaning device 10 around the swimming pool, thus the buoyant region 310is provided to decrease the force of friction against lower wall 230,caused by the swimming pool floor, allowing the device 10 to moverelatively freely.

Further, at least one connection element 340 may be formed on the lowerend of housing 330. In FIG. 2, connection elements 340 are shown asrings for receiving a rope, tether or the like, thus allowing the userto tether device 10 to a particular region of the swimming pool.Although shown as rings, connector elements 340 may be any suitableconnectors for attachment of a rope, tether or the like. Additionally, astabilizing fin 250 may be formed on housing 330 and project outwardlytherefrom. Stabilizing fin 250 provides for additional stability fordevice 10 in the event device 10 should move into a region of watercontaining vortices, turbulence, relatively high-velocity fluid flow orother destabilizing currents.

As shown in FIG. 2, once water is sucked into head portion 20 of device10, as indicated by directional arrows 270, a flapper valve 30 allowswater to flow either through suction tube 120 (shown by directionalarrow 290) or through suction tube 110 (shown by directional arrow 280).The upper ends of suction tubes 110 and 120 join within a manifold orjuncture chamber 111, where flow through connector portion 240 may befirst regulated with a ball valve 320.

As best shown in FIG. 3, flapper valve 30 is pivotally connected, at anupper end thereof, to support member 151. Flapper valve 30 is pivotallymounted through use of a pivotal connector 150, which may be a pivot pinor the like. Water is drawn through opening 220 formed in lower wall 230of the head portion 20. The water enters chamber 85, where it is thendrawn through openings 40, 50 (illustrated by directional arrows 60 and70, respectively), formed through base plate 80. Openings 40, 50 arealigned with the lower ends of tubes 110, 120, respectively, as shown.The flow of water through openings 40, 50, rather than directly fromchamber 85 into chambers 90 and 100, acts to smooth and regulate thewater flow, decreasing the possibilities of turbulence, vortices andother negative effects associated with fluid flow, which could disruptoperation of system 10.

As best shown in FIG. 4, base plate 80 has a substantially rectangularcontour and includes a main plate portion 180, which has a substantiallyplanar configuration. Openings 40 and 50 are formed through main plateportion 180 and, although openings 40 and 50 are shown as having asubstantially oval contour, it should be understood that this is forexemplary purposes only, and openings 40 and 50 may have any suitablecontour, for example, a rectangular contour.

It should be noted that in conventional pool cleaning systems, baseplates similar to base plate 80 are typically provided with only asingle opening formed therethrough. A single opening system provides arather limited flow of water and, due to the Venturi Effect and othercauses of turbulence and vortices of dynamic fluid flow, tends to causeinterruption in the fluid dynamic effect that causes the system to move.By contrast, the dual openings 40, 50 formed in the base plate 80,however, provide for a continuous fluid flow, with a greater volume ofwater passing therethrough at a greater rate, thus maintaining system 10in continuous motion. This continuous motion provides for optimalcleaning of the swimming pool surface.

The laterally opposed edges of base plate 80 include a raised rimportion 190. Further, an opening 160 is formed centrally through oneedge of base plate 80, and a pair of engaging tabs 200 are formed on theopposite edge of base plate 80 and project outwardly therefrom.Returning to FIG. 3, base plate 80 is positioned at an angle withrespect to lower wall 230, and the first end of base plate 80 is securedby a fastener 170, which may be a rod or the like, which is receivedthrough opening 160. Further, a pair of recesses 210 are formed in lowerwall 230 for receiving tabs 200, thus securing base plate 80 within headportion 20 and dividing the interior of head portion 20 into lowerchamber 85 and upper chambers 90, 100.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, flapper valve 30 is shown ascontacting wall 130, thus causing fluid to flow into chamber 100 (andsubsequently through suction tube 120), and preventing fluid flow intochamber 90. Due to Bernoulli's principle, the flowing water passing intochamber 100 and suction tube 120 is under lower pressure than the waterat rest in chamber 90. Thus, flapper valve 30 will experience a motiveforce, rotating flapper valve 30 so that it contacts wall 140, thussealing chamber 100 and tube 120, and allowing water to flow underpressure into chamber 90 and tube 110.

The water in sealed chamber 100, however, still retains an upwardmomentum and the horizontal component of this momentum is transferredinto device 10, causing slight horizontal movement in the directionshown by directional arrow 260, in FIG. 2. It should be noted that thisdriving force in the horizontal direction is relatively weak, but notnegligible, and will cause device 10 to move across the floor of theswimming pool in the direction indicated. Following a similar process,the pressure of the moving water in chamber 90 and suction tube 110 isnow at a lower pressure than that in chamber 100, thus causing flappervalve 30 to rotate in the opposite direction and, once again, makecontact with wall 130, sealing of chamber 90 and allowing water to flowinto chamber 100. The water in chamber 90 and tube 110 also retainsupward momentum with a horizontal momentum component, which istransferred to device 10 in the manner described above, creatinghorizontal movement in the direction of arrow 260.

The oscillatory nature of the water flow between suction tubes 110 and120 generates a small but non-negligible horizontal movement of device10, thus allowing device 10 to automatically travel through the swimmingpool and cover the entire surface to be cleaned, such as the swimmingpool floor, without additional user-applied driving force.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A swimming pool cleaning device, comprising: first and second suctiontubes, each of the tubes having opposed upper and lower ends; a headportion defining an open inner chamber, the head portion having a lowerwall, the lower wall having a water inlet formed therethrough, each ofthe first and second suction tubes being mounted on the head portion andbeing in fluid communication with the open inner chamber; a base platemounted within the open inner chamber, the base plate separating theopen inner chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the baseplate having first and second openings formed therethrough, the firstopening being aligned with the first suction tube and the second openingbeing aligned with the second suction tube; a connector portion in fluidcommunication with the upper ends of the first and second suction tubes,the connector portion being adapted for fluid-tight connection to anexternal pressurized source; and a head valve pivotally mounted withinthe head portion, the head valve pivoting between a first positionblocking fluid flow into the second suction tube while permitting fluidflow into the first suction tube, and a second position blocking fluidflow into the first suction tube while permitting fluid flow into thesecond suction tube; whereby, when the swimming pool cleaning device issubmerged in fluid and the connector portion is connected to theexternal pressurized source, the fluid is drawn into the open innerchamber through the water inlet, and the head valve oscillates toalternately permit the fluid to flow into the first and second suctiontubes as pressure in the upper chamber on opposite sides of the headvalve rises and drops, the fluid being drawn through the connectorportion for purification, the oscillating fluid flow through the firstand second suction tubes driving the head portion in a substantiallyhorizontal direction across a swimming pool floor.
 2. The swimming poolcleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housingenclosing said first and second suction tubes.
 3. The swimming poolcleaning device as recited in claim 2, wherein said housing includes abuoyant portion for providing a vertical buoyant force to said swimmingpool cleaning device when the swimming pool cleaning device is submergedin the fluid.
 4. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim2, further comprising means for securing said housing to an externaltether.
 5. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 2,further comprising a stabilizing fin mounted on said housing, the finprojecting outwardly from said housing.
 6. The swimming pool cleaningdevice as recited in claim 1, further comprising an upper valvepositioned between said connector portion and the upper ends of saidfirst and second suction tubes.
 7. The swimming pool cleaning device asrecited in claim 6, wherein the upper valve comprises a ball valve. 8.The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein saidhead valve comprises a flapper valve.
 9. The swimming pool cleaningdevice as recited in claim 1, wherein said base plate has opposed firstand second ends, the first opening being formed adjacent the first endof said base plate, and the second opening being formed adjacent thesecond end of said base plate.
 10. The swimming pool cleaning device asrecited in claim 9, further comprising means for securing the first endof said base plate to the lower wall of said head portion.
 11. Theswimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 10, wherein at leastone recess is formed in the lower wall of said head portion, said meansfor securing the first end of said base plate comprising at least onetab mounted to the first end of said base plate and projecting outwardlytherefrom, the at least one tab being received within the at least onerecess.
 12. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 9,further comprising means for securing the second end of said base plateto a sidewall of said head portion.
 13. The swimming pool cleaningdevice as recited in claim 12, the second end of said base plate has afastener opening defined therein, said means for securing the second endof said base plate comprising a rod mounted adjacent the sidewall andprojecting through the fastener opening.
 14. The swimming pool cleaningdevice as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for releasablyjoining said connector portion to the external pressurized source. 15.The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 14, wherein themeans for releasably joining said connector portion to the externalpressurized source comprises a threaded connector.
 16. The swimming poolcleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an uppervalve positioned between said connector portion and the upper ends ofsaid first and second suction tubes; and a junction chamber formedbetween the upper ends of said first and second suction tubes and saidconnector portion; whereby the fluid from said first and second suctiontubes feeds into the junction chamber and is drawn out of the junctionchamber through said connector portion.
 17. The swimming pool cleaningdevice as recited in claim 16, wherein the upper valve is positionedwithin the junction chamber.
 18. The swimming pool cleaning device asrecited in claim 1, wherein said base plate has opposed first and secondends, the first opening being formed adjacent the first end of said baseplate, and the second opening being formed adjacent the second end ofsaid base plate, said base plate having a pair of laterally opposed sideedges, each of the side edges having a raised rim formed thereon. 19.The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein saidhousing includes a buoyant portion for providing a vertical buoyantforce to said swimming pool cleaning device when the swimming poolcleaning device is submerged in the fluid, the device further comprisinga buoyant material disposed within said housing.
 20. The swimming poolcleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least onering mounted to an external surface of said housing for securing saidhousing to an external tether.